Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-07-07


that seemed to me at the time TO be
three feet long.
What's that thing on your head
said the cowboy, in a chilly tone ot
voice.
That's hat, said /, family.
He reached forward and took it
from my head, looked it all over, and
then drawing one of his guns he threw
the hat into the air and shot hole in
it. He performed this feat of marks
manship six times, when l ventured
to inform the man that it was the only
hat owned, and that / thanked him
very kindly for ventila,ing it, as il
had saved me the trouble.
The giant gazed at me for about
minute, but it seemed to me that his
eyes were fixed on me for an hour and
half.
Come into the store, said he, in
his awful voice.
Il followed him like lamb.
Hand down them hats, he howled
to a slender-legged clerk, and be
quick about it.
The hats which he pointed at were
on the top shelf, and never saw
clerk climb a step.ladder so quick in
all my life. He went up like a mon.
key, and the ladder fairly ratified
from his trembling. He threw down
all the hats there were in the store,
and the cowboy picked out a white
one with low crown aud rim on It
about eighteen inches wide. He jam
med the thing on my head, threw
down a tive-dollar piece, and said:
Wear that, and if l ever see you
with any other kind of hat on that
cocoanut OF yourn III turn yer into
pillar Of lead.
Il informed him that | was de-
lighted with the hat, and that was
about to purchase just such q concern
when first made his acquaintance.
The hat weighed two pounds, and |
was the most conscientious man you
ever saw in regard to wearing it.
Sometimes | would get up in my sleep
and put in on.
The cowboys 80"
j Johnson, and he
Arizona and New.
pie of Tombstone sMu- me- -naN1 vs.~,.. -
fancy to me and ! was on the road to
fortune.
The same day, along toward night,
after | had got over the pleasure Of
the interview with my new acquain-
tancs, | want into a restaurant 10 get
something to'eat-I hadn't eaten any
thing all day. Somehow ! didn' feel
much like eating. Perhaps ! was too
overjoyed at getting the hat to think
of being hungry. However, ] took
my seat at the table, and big ruiiian-
Unlocking specimen of humanity yelled
at me from the other end of the room
What yer want?' ordered leef.
steak, and as | was trying to cut it
and was inst beginning to feel "a
hungry as bear, bang went pistol,
crash went pane of glass behind me.
and the man who waited on me fell
to the floor with howl, shot through
the thigh.
"Just then | happened to think that
| hadn't seen the town of Tombstone
from a point where | could take in
the place with one glance Of my artis-
tic eye. So thought would inn
medIately visit hill couple Of
miles to the north Of Tombstone and
come oack after awhile and eat my
dinner. | felt like exercising, any
way. It was nearer to the hill by
going ou. Of the back door Of the
restaurant; so went that way.
was SO much pleased with the trip
that | staid on the hill all night. |
slept in the hat.
Zone night l got into a sleep and
was dreaming that my old friend. the
big cowboy, was tossing me up IN the
air and shooting me full of holes, when
| was aroused by a wild yell.
II jumped up and ran to the door
and there stood my boss in the middle
of the floor facing about dozen des'
peradoes, who had just entered the
store. | thought if went out to
help him / might get in his way, and
besides ! thought he might prefer tc
kill the gang himself and would bt
angry with me il killed any Of them
so | went back to my room. | hac
heard a strange noise under the build
ing all the evening, so | took up
couple OF the boards Of the floor anC
crawled under. | Gidnt find AM
thing and concluded would TAX
another walk until ! became sleepy
You know it is often difficult to 90 t
sleep again after being suddenly
aroused. Somehow / lost my way
and came out at a stage station.
told the stage driver that / was lost